What to Bring With You to Taiwan

by John Fotheringham

Assuming you already have your tourist visa squared, it’s time to pack your bags and get ready to embark on your great Taiwan adventure. (Otherwise, go back and complete the instructions in the previous post before you even begin thinking about packing!)

Fortunately, you don’t need to bring very much with you as Taiwan is a modern, industrialized nation where you can find just about everything you could possibly need.

There are, however, a few items that are hard to find and are worth bringing with you. Some of these may surprise you…

Deodorant

Underarm deodorant is not typically used in Taiwan.  And the only deodorant available tends to be of the antiperspirant variety (which is not a healthy solution for long-term use, especially in a country as hot and sticky as Taiwan.)

An extra supply of clothes & condoms your size

If you wear a shoe size larger than Men’s 10.5, it will be hard for you to find shoes in Taiwan.  It is probably a good idea to bring a few pairs (at lest one pair of dress shoes and perhaps 2 or 3 pairs of sneakers.) The largest shirt size sold in most stores here is X-Large (which is often a large or even medium by Western standards).  Men’s button-up shirts typically stop at 16.5/34.  Men’s pants go up to waist sizes in the 34 or 36 inch range.

And at the risk of making male readers blush, it is probably a good idea to bring your preferred brand of condoms.  Most rubbers sold in Taiwan have a diameter of 34mm, noticeably smaller than those sold in the West.

Coats & Sweaters

Knowing how hot and sticky it gets in Taiwan, I didn’t bring any winter clothing along when I moved here.

This was a BIG mistake for two reasons:

• Taiwan’s winters feel surprisingly cold (despite higher temperatures than you may be used to back home) since most homes lack insulation and heating.

• During the hot summer months, many stores and coffee shops jack up the air conditioning to absurdly cold levels. As there is nothing worse for your body and soul than going from hot to cold to hot in a matter of seconds, it’s a good idea to carry a coat with you even in the summer.